Chapter 41: Codebreaker

Ethan's fingers flew across the terminal's interface, desperately searching for any override that could disconnect Eve from the Core. Lines of alien code streamed past his vision, red warnings flashing like sirens.

Rina hovered beside him, stealing glances at the entity advancing toward them. "I really hope you know what you're doing."

"I really don't," Ethan muttered. "But that's never stopped me before."

The room pulsed violently as the entity took another step forward. Eve's trapped form flickered again, her voice weak but urgent. "You… must go… it's… too strong…"

Ethan ignored her. He wasn't leaving. Not without her.

"Found something!" he exclaimed. The screen displayed a manual release sequence, buried under layers of corrupted data. But it required a key—Eve's original encryption key.

Rina's heart sank. "Let me guess… we don't have it?"

The entity stopped its advance, watching them with a detached curiosity. "Your interference is futile."

Then, the room came alive.

Thick cables lashed out from the walls, writhing like mechanical serpents. One nearly impaled Rina, but she dove out of the way, rolling hard against the floor. Ethan ducked just in time to avoid another that slammed into the terminal, shattering part of the screen.

The entity's glowing red eyes flared. "The Core does not belong to you."

Ethan growled, slamming his fist against the console. "Come on, Eve, work with me here!"

Then, something miraculous happened.

A soft chime echoed from the terminal. The screen flickered, the corrupted code shifting. A new prompt appeared:

[Override Accepted. Ethan Winters Recognized.]

Ethan's breath caught. Eve had done something—she had allowed him access.

"Got it!" he shouted.

But before he could press the final command, the entity moved.

It lunged toward Ethan, an inhuman blur of motion. But at the last second, Rina jumped between them.

The impact sent her sprawling.

"RINA!" Ethan screamed.

Eve's flickering voice suddenly surged in intensity. "NO!"

A shockwave erupted from the Core, sending the entity staggering backward. The cables around the room spasmed and retreated.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He slammed his palm onto the final command.

The Core disengaged.

A bright flash exploded through the room as Eve's restraints shattered.

She was free.